Although we have cruised before, this was our first cruise with Cunard. The Queen Elizabeth is a very comfortable ship. There are plenty of seats around the ship, and it is never hard to find a comfortable spot to relax, read a book, watch the scenery, play a card or board game or just chat to new friends. There are lots of activities on board, shops to visit, a very busy British pub, an excellent library, lectures, daily movies, and the standard of acts in the theatre was very good. The food was delicious. Serves in the dining room are small, which is very good since eating at the self-serve Lido inevitably leads to over-indulgence. It was very upsetting to hear a perfectly fit passenger rudely complain to staff that he had waited in vain for 15 minutes for a staff member to offer him a cup of tea - in a self-service restaurant! Currency on board is $US which can make on-board shopping, specialty dining, drinks and shore excursions expensive for some. The staff are hard working, helpful, friendly and polite and a credit to Cunard. At every port on this trip from Melbourne around New Zealand, we were transported to the city by bus and/or tender. Although information on shore excursions was provided, and photographers were about the ship, there was no hard sell, which was impressive and most welcome. Whilst there was a few minor disappointments - the absence of a few favourite food items, for example, and the lengthy queues for tickets for tender transfers, they were entirely offset by the many pleasures to be enjoyed on this ship. This is not a ship for children or teenagers who might find it boring. There are other cruise lines for them. Read the literature and reviews before you go and there will be no need to be upset that your drinks are costly, or your shore excursions too. Be prepared and you won’t feel the need to complain later.